NFL Defensive Player of the Year race 2026
Greg Rousseau leads the league's defenders: 6 sacks · 0 INT · 3 forced fumbles · 8 TFL · 20 tackles. Will Anderson Jr. is next. A count of the plays that end drives, not a forecast.
Greg Rousseau leads the league's defenders: 6 sacks · 0 INT · 3 forced fumbles · 8 TFL · 20 tackles. Will Anderson Jr. is next. A count of the plays that end drives, not a forecast.
Sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles
Plays · TFL
Will Anderson Jr. DEHouston Texans · 7.5 sacks · 0 INT · 1 forced fumble · 11.5 TFL · 27 tackles8.511.5 TFL
Dallas Turner LBMinnesota Vikings · 5.5 sacks · 0 INT · 2 forced fumbles · 5.5 TFL · 14 tackles7.55.5 TFL
T.J. Watt LBPittsburgh Steelers · 4.5 sacks · 1 INT · 1 forced fumble · 6.5 TFL · 13 tackles6.56.5 TFL
Andrew Van Ginkel LBMinnesota Vikings · 4 sacks · 1 INT · 1 forced fumble · 5 TFL · 14 tackles65 TFL
Elijah Ponder LBNew England Patriots · 4.5 sacks · 0 INT · 1 forced fumble · 6.5 TFL · 21 tackles5.56.5 TFL
Byron Young LBLos Angeles Rams · 3.5 sacks · 0 INT · 1 forced fumble · 4.5 TFL · 19 tackles4.54.5 TFL
Nakobe Dean LBLas Vegas Raiders · 1.5 sacks · 0 INT · 3 forced fumbles · 3.5 TFL · 44 tackles4.53.5 TFL
Edgerrin Cooper LBGreen Bay Packers · 3 sacks · 1 INT · 0 forced fumbles · 7 TFL · 30 tackles47 TFL
Defenders ordered by sacks plus interceptions plus forced fumbles, the plays that end a drive, then tackles for loss, then tackles. Regular-season totals from ESPN, refreshed every few hours. MVP race · Rookie of the Year
Questions
Who is leading the NFL Defensive Player of the Year race?
By sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles, Greg Rousseau (LB, BUF): 6 sacks · 0 INT · 3 forced fumbles · 8 TFL · 20 tackles.
How is this race ordered?
Defenders ordered by sacks plus interceptions plus forced fumbles, the plays that end a drive, then tackles for loss, then tackles.